Mineral-working equipment

ABSTRACT

A tool-supporting device for directing or maneuvering mineralworking or like equipment in relation to a mineral face or terrain to be mined or worked with the aid of such equipment, comprises two units, at least one of which is adapted to have a tool mounted on it. Each unit has jack means whereby it can be releasably secured between a floor and roof of a mineworking. Extensible means is provided between the units, said extensible means being operative, using each unit as an abutment or anchorage, to move the other unit relatively thereto. The device also includes steering means between the units for directing such relative movement. In a preferred embodiment of the invention each unit of the tool-supporting device has upwardly and downwardly directed jack means, the arrangement being such that the jack means of one unit can be retracted to leave said unit supported cantilever fashion from the other unit for movement by the extensible means under the control of the steering means.

United States Patent Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee Priority MINERAL-WORKING EQUIPMENT 7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

Int. Cl

Field of Search E2ld 15/44 61/452;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Berry..... Mavor.. Gu1lick.. Fawkes.....

Morgan Jenkins Primary Exam iner-Dennis L. Taylor Att0meyBerman, Davidson & Berman ABSTRACT: A tool-supporting device for directing or maneuvering mineral-working or like equipment in relation to a mineral face or terrain to be mined or worked with the aid of such equipment, comprises two units, at least one of which is adapted to have a tool mounted on it. Each unit has jack means whereby it can be releasably secured between a floor and roof of a mineworking. Extensible means is provided between the units, said extensible means being operative, using each unit as an abutment or anchorage, to move the other unit relatively thereto. The device also includes steering means between the units for directing such relative movement. In a preferred embodiment of the invention each unit of the tool-supporting device has upwardly and downwardly directed jack means, the arrangement being such that the jack means of one unit can be retracted to leave said-unit supported cantilever fashion from the other unit for movement by the extensible means under the control of the steering means.

PATENIED JUL! 3197! $592,010

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BY 51m) 525 mm MINERALWORKING EQUIPMENT This invention is for improvements in or relating to means for directing or maneuvering mineral-working or like equipment in relation to a mineral face or terrain to be mined or worked with the aid of such equipment. Said means is hereinafter referred to as a tool-supporting device.

One particular application of the invention is to the extraction of minerals (e.g. coal or ore) or materials from underground workings.

In the extraction of minerals or materials from underground workings it is often a requirement to provide a rig or supporting device for the mineral-working equipment. This equip ment may, for example, be drilling apparatus, pneumatic or hydraulic hammers or the like. The rig or supporting device is usually staked or temporarily fixed in relation to the mineworkings. This may entail a certain amount of preparation in order to ensure a stable abutment for the mineralworking equipment. Alternatively, the drilling or other mineral-working equipment may be self-contained, the body of the equipment or machine being sufficiently stable to act as an abutment for the application of the drilling or other tools to the mineral, without the need to affix said body to the mineworkings.

According to the present invention there is provided a toolsupporting device comprising two units, at least one of which is adapted to have a tool mounted on it, each unit having jack means whereby it can be releasably secured between the floor and roof, extensible means between the units and operative, using each unit as an abutment or anchorage, to move the other unit relatively thereto, and steering means between the units operative to direct such relative movement.

Conveniently at least one of the units has universal movement with respect to the other and said steering means is operative to direct such universal movement.

The extensible means may, for example, by hydraulic jacks or rams.

At least one of the units may be provided with means whereby it is readily adapted to have mineral-working or other equipment secured on it.

The invention will be further described, by way of example, as applied to a supporting or abutment device for mineralworking equipment. In the following description reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is a side elevation of the abutment or supporting device,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device,

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevation through one of the units of the device,

FIG. 4 is a pictorial view of the rig or device, and

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic plan view of a modified form of the device shown in FIGS. 1 to 4.

The device shown on the drawings comprises a heavy-duty abutment unit and a light-duty abutment unit 11. These two units are interconnected by hydraulic rams l2 and 13.

Each of these rams has a series of steering rams associated with it. The steering rams for the ram 13 are indicated at 14, 15 and I6 and the steering rams for the ram 12 at I7, 18 and 19. For the sake of clarity the rams l6 and 19 are only indicated diagrammatically in FIG. 4.

The abutment unit 10 has three upwardly directed hydraulic jacks 20a and three downwardly directed hydraulic jacks 20. The abutment unit 11 has one upwardly directed hydraulic jack 21 and two downwardly directed jacks 22.

The jacks 21 and 22 (see FIG. 3) have inner members or pistons 23 and 24 respectively attached by pins 28 and 27 to the units 11, the outer members or cylinders of these jacks having collars 25 and 26 respectively. The jacks 20 and 200 are similarly constructed and attached by pins to the unit 10.

The jacks 20, 20a, 21 and 22 are all double acting so that they can be positively extended or retracted by hydraulic pressure fluid. When the jacks of a unit have been retracted that unit is held in suspension, cantilever fashion, from the other unit and can be maneuvered in the mineral working.

The face 29 of the unit 10 is provided with locating means and tapped holes or the like for the location and securing on it of drilling or other equipment. The face 30 of the unit 11 may also be constructed for the mounting on it of drilling or other mineral-working equipment.

The above-described device is used and operated as follows:

Assuming that heavy-duty material working equipment is to be used, then this is mounted on the surface 29 of the unit 10 which is adjacent to the mineral face to be worked. The unit 11 is secured between the floor and roof of the mineworking by extension of the jacks 21 and 22, the jacks 20 and 20a being retracted clear of the floor and roof.

The unit 10 together with the drilling or other equipment is then manipulated into the required position by bringing into operation in combination as necessary the rams 12 and 13 and the steering rams I4, l5, I6, 17, 18 and 19. To enable this to be done the rams are universally mounted and/or are universally connected to the units 10 and 11.

When the equipment has been correctly positioned in relation to the mineral face the jacks 20 and 20a are extended so as to secure the unit 10 between the floor and roof of the mineworking. The unit 10 is then in a condition to withstand the operational loads applied to the drilling or other equipment mounted on it as said equipment is operated to work the mineral face.

When light-duty equipment is to be used this is mounted on the unit 11 which is positioned in proximity to the mineral face instead of the unit 10. Manipulation of the unit 11 and the equipment mounted thereon is carried out in a similar manner to that just described except, of course, that the unit 10 is first secured between floor and roof and the unit 11 is only so secured after it has been manipulated by the rams to the required position using the unit 10 as an abutment.

It will be appreciated that the device above described can propel itself or walk" about a mineral working so as to be available as and where required. To effect this walking" operation, one unit will be fixed, by its jacks, between floor and roof, the other unit, while temporarily released from between floor and roof by retraction of its jacks, being advanced by extending the rams 12, I3. The latter unit is then resecured between floor and roof and the other unit brought up to it by retracting the rams 12, 13. Thus, the device as whole has made a step forward and can be made to make any number of such steps, directed by the steering rams 14-29, so as to bring it to where it is required.

The embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 5 is similar to that already described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 and where applicable like reference numerals have been used to designate like parts.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 5, however, the unit 10 is formed with a housing 31 which receives a shaft or member 32 pivotally attached at 33 to the unit 11. Rollers or the like 31a; may be provided in the housing 31 to facilitate extension and retraction of the member 32 therein.

Steering rams 34 are provided on the unit 11 and are adapted to act on opposite sides respectively of the member or shaft 32.

A double-acting hydraulic ram has its piston 35 connected to the unit 10 as indicated at 36 and its cylinder 37 connected to the member 32 as indicated at 38.

The device as shown in FIG. 5 is operated in a similar manner to that already described with reference to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the ram 35, 37 being used to walk" the device from place to place and to adjust the position of one unit which respect to the other by advancing the member 32 out of, or retracting it into the unit 10. The steering rams 34 canbeusedtoswingtheunit 11 about its pivot 33 so as to direct any equipment mounted on said unit in the required direction.

Preferably all the downwardly directed jacks 20 and 22 of the device shown in FIG. 5 are independently operable both for extension and retraction. During the setting operation this enables each jack to be extended individually so as to contact the floor without actually pressing down thereon and introducing stresses into the structure. Means may be provided for locking each downwardly facing leg in this position. The actual setting load" is applied by extending the upwardly directed jacks 20a and 21 so that they press hard against the roof.

I claim:

1. A tool-supporting device comprising two units, means on at least one of said units for mounting a tool on it, each unit having upwardly and downwardly operating double-acting jack means whereby it can be releasably secured between a floor and roof and whereby also one unit can be supported from the other cantilever fashion for vertical bodily movement to adjust the operating position of the tool on said unit vertically, pressure fluid ram means pivotally connecting the units together and operative using each unit as an abutment or anchorage, when secured between floor and roof, to move the other unit relatively thereto and thereby walk the device as a whole to an area of operations, and further pressure fluid ram means between the units and operative to move one unit relatively to the other angularly, by virtue of their pivotal connection together, in a lateral direction.

2. A tool-supporting device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said further pressure fluid ram means, between the units, is also operative to move one unit relatively to the other angularly, by virtue of their pivotal connection together, in a vertical plane.

3. A tool-supporting device as claimed in claim ll wherein the pivot means pivotally connecting the units together provides for universal movement of at least one of said units.

4. A tool-supporting device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said further pressure fluid ram means includes a ram means which acts on the pressure fluid ram means pivotally connecting the units together.

5. A tool-supporting device as claimed in claim 1 wherein one unit has a member pivotally connected to it for swinging movement in a horizontal plane, said member being movably supported for advancement and retraction in the other unit, the pressure fluid ram means pivotally connecting the units together being connected between the latter unit and said member.

6. A tool-supporting device as claimed in claim 5 wherein movement of said member takes place on rollers.

7. A tool-supporting device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the unit on which said member is pivoted has on it pressure fluid rams positioned to act laterally from opposite directions on said member. 

1. A tool-supporting device comprising two units, means on at least one of said units for mounting a tool on it, each unit having upwardly and downwardly operating double-acting jack means whereby it can be releasably secured between a floor and roof and whereby also one unit can be supported from the other cantilever fashion for vertical bodily movement to adjust the operating position of the tool on said unit vertically, pressure fluid ram means pivotally connecting the units together and operative using each unit as an abutment or anchorage, when secured between floor and roof, to move the other unit relatively thereto and thereby walk the device as a whole to an area of operations, and further pressure fluid ram means between the units and operative to move one unit relatively to the other angularly, by virtue of their pivotal connection together, in a lateral direction.
 2. A tool-supporting device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said further pressure fluid ram means, between the units, is also operative to move one unit relatively to the other angularly, by virtue of their pivotal connection together, in a vertical plane.
 3. A tool-supporting device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pivot means pivotally connecting the units together provides for universal movement of at least one of said units.
 4. A tool-supporting device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said further pressure fluid ram means includes a ram means which acts on the pressure fluid ram means pivotally connecting the units together.
 5. A tool-supporting device as claimed in claim 1 wherein one unit has a member pivotally connected to it for swinging movement in a horizontal plane, said member being mOvably supported for advancement and retraction in the other unit, the pressure fluid ram means pivotally connecting the units together being connected between the latter unit and said member.
 6. A tool-supporting device as claimed in claim 5 wherein movement of said member takes place on rollers.
 7. A tool-supporting device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the unit on which said member is pivoted has on it pressure fluid rams positioned to act laterally from opposite directions on said member. 